Edmonton is fairly predictable in many ways, one of them being goaltending. For the last several seasons the club has had 5 organizational goaltenders--two for the NHL, two for the AHL and one for the ECHL--and so far this year they number only four at the position.
OKC Barons depth chart currently boasts Yann Danis and Olivier Roy. Roy is a fine prospect (although he has been passed by Tyler Bunz in my estimation) but the Oilers usually send their new pro's to the ECHL. Here's the split over recent seasons for draft picks in their first pro seasons:
- Jeff Deslauriers: 11 ECHL, 22 AHL first year pro
- Devan Dubnyk: 43 ECHL, 4 AHL first year pro
- Bryan Pitton: 34 ECHL, 1 AHL first year pro
- Glenn Fisher: 38 ECHL, 1 AHL first year pro
Jim Matheson suggested the Oilers might wait until the waiver period at the end of training camp in this article. There are some candidates (Flyers have three, with backups being Bobrovsky and Michael Leighton) but I think it's a very dangerous game to play. Nikolai Khabibulin's injury status, Dubnyk's youth and inexperience; Dannis is a solid AHL goaltender and might push for an NHL job in training camp, and Roy is a new pro that the Oilers traditionally bring along slowly.
tsn is reporting that Ray Emery is going to attend Chicago's camp and the Hawks will have until October 1st to sign or release him. I think the Oilers stand a real chance of being left without a veteran goaltending option; the waiver wire is no sure thing, as teams can IR players to get down to their 23-man rosters and make a decision later in the season. One would think that Emery would have been willing to sign with the Oilers, as it would have represented something more secure than a training camp invite.
Opportunity missed? We'll see.
More than anything, I'm frustrated by their decision to give Khabby another shot next year. I could see them darkhorsing their way into a playoff race if a million and one things went right but if they give him the 20-30 games necessary to satisfy themselves that he stinks, the hole will be too deep.
ReplyDeleteI still see them signing Turco as a last resort. As he is definitely not my first choice he may end up being the only choice. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteMC: Agreed. They have reason to do so and I'm not talking about the legal problems. Khabibulin has dropped below the goalie Mendoza line and should have to prove his ability to play at a high level in the AHL--earning a way back to the NHL.
ReplyDeleteI was encouraged by Renney's words the other day, but actions speak louder than words. Signing a reasonable option and then having an open audition in the fall would represent the Oilers conducting business in a manner that suggests they'd like to win hockey games.
Frustrated yes, but no surprise. To do anything else would have meant a very public admission that Khabi is really not the MVP by 3.1 and the Director of Hockey Ooops.
ReplyDeleteBut absolutely a missed opportunity. The odds of Khabi having a rebound season are very, very long - as has been noted in many places. Not a good bet.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI get the argument for signing another goalie at the NHL level, if they are trying to make the playoffs this season; I was an advocate for looking at a guy like Vokoun.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can certainly see the argument for signing a guy like Emery, but I'm not as concerned about the depth as you LT, not yet anyways. It can't be that hard to find a reasonable AHL backup that you could sign to a two way contract (if they have room) or to an AHL contract. Danis gets the bulk of AHL starts, while Roy starts in the ECHL.
To me, the waiver wire is more likely to be used by EDM in late Sept/early Oct to fill the 7th D spot than to find a 3rd goalie.
Yeah, I agree with Speeds. This isn't much of a crisis depth-wise. I also think Khabby's year this year will be much stronger than the last one. The focus component of a goalie's game is huge, and how could Khabby have it last year? Once his sentence is behind him, he will be much better. Not good enough to be parading around with the Stanley in tow, but that's not in the cards for the next 2 years, regardless.
ReplyDeleteKhabibulin will improve, or else leave the team.
ReplyDeleteLike wtf, tanking and failing for Nail is one thing, but icing a team then sabotaging it's young players is a step too far for Kevin Lowe, let alone Tambellini.
I've decided to take a flyer and declare Tambellini as a competant NHL GM, for the time being. A pair of 1st overall picks is nothing to sneeze at, and when they develop along with Eberle etc, Oilers are going to be fighting for the Western Conference on a regular basis, 2000 Av's style.
While never a huge Khabbi fan, if DD inherits his workload he should do OK in the back-up department. Even though Gerber would have been better than him last season, he is the guy they signed and he is capable of decent performance. If he doesn't pick it up this year, though, I would turf him whatever way possible (likely it would be $$$).
ReplyDeleteThree goalies in the big club has been a disaster every time it has been tried here. If DD is going to be a starter, then they need to let him start.
After admitting JDD didn't turn out, I am betting that DD gets a long run to prove himself this year.
The odds of Khabi having a rebound season are very, very long - as has been noted in many places. Not a good bet.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Lloyd Christmas, "So you're saying there's a chance!"
A clever GM would have spoken with Gerber in May and June saying,
ReplyDelete"We needed to play out the string with NK this year. We are going to compete next year and know that you played very well for us at both levels. We can't offer you an NHL gig just now, but if wherever you sign you get an NHL out clause... it might prove beneficial for both of us next season."
I like the way Khabibulin exudes cup-winning confidence during warm ups.
ReplyDeleteA clever GM would have spoken with Gerber in May and June
ReplyDeleteMarty Gerber is not the answer to anything. His best years are behind him - and his best years were not that good.
I don't see the problem frankly.
Run DD out there 50 - 60 games. If he plays well, you have a number one goaler. If he doesn't, they have to go get a #1 type next for next season.
Bulin is better than many of the backups in the league. He can play 20 or 30 games and certainly mentor DD how to handle the job fulltime.
And picking someone off waivers during training camp, or making a trade at that time, seems reasonable.
There will be a ton of goalies suitable for the AAAA role when the music stops.
I've gotten so used to morbid curiousity being the funnest part of watching the Oilers in recent seasons, that I almost don't want to know yet what will happen if one or more of their goalies goes down...it would take away the suspense when tragedy (inevitably) strikes.
ReplyDeleteGood on MacT with the announcement of a new coaching gig. And as it is the affiliate of the Canucks, there is reasonable hope he may take over from Vigneault down the road. Wait, maybe that is not so good ....
ReplyDeleteMacT would never dare beat the Oilers, whatever team he coaches.
ReplyDeleteNice to see him in the AHL, lol.
The path to the NHL coaching is clearly coming through the AHL right now. MacT is a very smart man.
ReplyDeleteMarty Gerber is not the answer to anything
ReplyDeleteThe goal of this season is to ensure that the young forwards have a competant goalie to give them a chance to win on a consistent basis. Gerber did that last year, and could likely do so again. So, while i appreciate your opinion, I beleive you are in error.
Khabbibulin's drunken ramblings about his stanley cup ring are not what I would want on a team that is trying to develop young effective players, especially Dubnyk. He has shown over the last two seasons that he is by far one of the worst options in the NHL. Gerber has shown in small samples that he is much more capable. You may like to cling to false hopes of him recovering, but I would rather ensure that there are better options available.
I hope the man does play better, but relying on hope to stop pucks is a poor plan.
There will be a ton of goalies suitable for the AAAA role when the music stops.
Dubnyk will likely need more than some random AHL castoff to help support this team, even if he plays 60 games this year. Pissing away the other 22 because you cheaped out and brought in some other team's cast-off is not a recipe to build a winning culture. It could work, but betting on it is like like investing in that african princess email that we've all gotten - if it works you're set, but if it doesn't you look like a jack ass.
Ive been listening to Oiler's Lunch a little bit lately and Stauffer gets very offended if any of the callers even suggest that Re-Khabi will not have a bounce back season and regain his old form or that RNH shouldn't get a rubber stamp on 82 games this season. I'm fairly new to Oiler's Lunch but has it always been so blatantly pro Oiler's management? It's like you can almost hear the agenda being placed in front of the guy as he's switching topics.
ReplyDeleteThe path to the NHL coaching is clearly coming through the AHL right now. MacT is a very smart man.
ReplyDeleteAre you saying he turned down NHL offers because he wanted to position himself for an AHL job so that he could get into the NHL?
The reality is that it was the best that he could get. He melted down in his last couple of years in Edmonton (perhaps with good reason given the team he had), but I suspect that there is a bit of a question mark attached to him despite his successes.
With that said, you are correct in that he was smart to swallow his pride and take the AHL job. He is a good coach and I think his time away from the game will have helped him. I expect to see him back in the NHL in a few years time.
Marty Gerber is not the answer to anything
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ:
1. Who was drafted in the eighth round, as 232nd overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft?
2. What goalie was was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on June 18, 2004, in exchange for Tomáš Malec and a 3rd round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft?
3. What Swiss ice hockey player signed as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2006?
4. What goalie wore a completely black mask for the 2007-08 season resulting in his being nicknamed Darth Gerber?
Need I go on?
Need I go on?
ReplyDeleteNo. You have proven that he is the answer to inane trivia questions about Swiss goalies.
I therefore stand corrected.
Dubnyk will likely need more than some random AHL castoff to help support this team, even if he plays 60 games this year.
He will have a vet with a Cup ring, pink underwear, and a wealth of experience. The AAAA guy will be on the farm in case someone gets hurt.
This Gerber guy bookie is so familiar with was in a similar position last year.
Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen?
ReplyDelete"Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz and Lucille LeSueur"
ReplyDeleteThat's the question that Cliff Clavin struggled with.
Khabby is real quality. Just bad puck luck.
ReplyDeleteKhabby is real quality. Just bad puck luck.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I'm not sure why the Oilers don't give him 50 games or so to find his form again. ;-)
Hilarious hockey memes at House of the Hockey
ReplyDeleteThe Messier one at the end is now my wallpaper.
I am also emailing it to every Dys fan I know.
Ducey: Bulin is better than many of the backups in the league. He can play 20 or 30 games and certainly mentor DD how to handle the job fulltime.
ReplyDeleteBased on what? Certainly not Khabibulin's save percentage last year.
acker: last name to babe actress Amy
I highly doubt the Oilers do anything via waivers with a goalie.
ReplyDeleteWhen you pick up a player on waivers they must stay on your NHL roster.
So that means sending Khabby down early, and that isn't happening.
Like Tyler said, they will let Khabby get killed for 15 games first and put the team out of the hunt by December again.
Are you saying he turned down NHL offers because he wanted to position himself for an AHL job so that he could get into the NHL?
More like "MacT knew enough to swallow his pride and work as a HC in the AHL rather than hang around doing odd jobs and waiting for a NHL HC gig"
. He melted down in his last couple of years in Edmonton (perhaps with good reason given the team he had), but I suspect that there is a bit of a question mark attached to him despite his successes.
Oilers under MacT in 07/08 19th in NHL, 9th in WC, 88pts.
Oilers under MacT in 08/09 21st in NHL, 11th in WC, 85pts.
Basically same line up the next year under OTC 30th in NHL, 15th in WC, 62pts.
He should have retro actively been given the Adams.
Khabby is real quality. Just bad puck luck.
Are you a parody of yourself now?
Dubnyk is the starter, Khabby the back-up.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chicago will be looking at Emmery but don't think he dislodges Crawford as the starter. If he shows well in the Chicago tryout, he may still be available on October 1st, by which time we will have a good sense of whether Khabby is even back-up ready.
The depth question LT poses here is really about who is to tandem with Denis in OKC - so Roy can go to the ECHL. Emmery (or Khabby) won't be that guy so I'm not sure that the connection is valid. Were we to waive Khabby down I doubt he would report and would probably ask to go to the KHL - which we would likely grant him the chance to do.
I don't think Nabokov is the solution either but any thoughts on where he goes? Detroit?
I'm going to go ahead and tell myself that whatever asset the Isles eventually get from trading Nabokov won't be enough to offset the stain they put on their organizational reputation among players when they stopped Nabby from going where he wanted to go last year.
ReplyDeleteThere, we were smart for not trying it ourselves. Glad that's settled.
Nugent-Hopkins, Bunz, and Simpson get calls to Team Canada Development camp...Link
ReplyDeletebook¡e asked: Are you saying he turned down NHL offers because he wanted to position himself for an AHL job so that he could get into the NHL?
ReplyDeletewoodguy answered: More like "MacT knew enough to swallow his pride and work as a HC in the AHL rather than hang around doing odd jobs and waiting for a NHL HC gig"
Exactly. MacT read the tea leaves correctly.
More like "MacT knew enough to swallow his pride and work as a HC in the AHL rather than hang around doing odd jobs and waiting for a NHL HC gig"
ReplyDeleteYep - that's what I said at the end of my comment. As noted, I think he will be back in the NHL at some point.
RNH and Bunz were slam dunks. Simpson is a nice bonus.
ReplyDeleteIt's also far from the first time a veteran NHL coach has gone back to the AHL to pay his dues. Vancouver's current coach, Vigneault, did it a few years back.
ReplyDeleteI always have the highest faith in Khabibulin, before he let's in those softies.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing that went through my head reading LT's blog entry was the same thought WG iterated... they can't pick up a goalie on end of TC waivers, b/c that would mean having to send one of the ones they have up here through waivers.
ReplyDeleteBut, as speeds pointed out AHL depth goaltending can't be that hard to find. I'd like to see them go after Binghamton's Brodeur.
I have yet to find any explanation of how Khabby is going to play home games.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure our intrepid, hard-hitting, investigative city reporters are all over this story.
lol SpOILer.
ReplyDeleteDan Tencer sure SOUNDS like the name of a hard hitting journalist.
ReplyDeleteAre Sherrif Joe and the Admin at Tent City AZ aware of reKhab's dehydration issues? It is July after all.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletespOiler: SS and I commented on Khabibulin's possible immigration issues in a previous thread. Our guess is that his (in)ability to enter Canada is unlikely to be an issue at all.
ReplyDeleteRepost: Typo.
I don't believe Lou managed to not only dump Rolston's 5 million millstone without giving anything up, but to get a helluva player in Trent Hunter back as well. I mean the guy has some injury issues, but he's solid and cheap at 2 million for 2 years and only 31.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Lou managed to not only dump Rolston's 5 million millstone without giving anything up, but to get a helluva player in Trent Hunter back as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe it. It's what Lou does.
How much of the decision to bring Khabi back vs pick up the first mediocre veteran backup available have to do with his relationship (positive or negative) with DD.
ReplyDeleteThis is DD's year and any success the Oilers might find this season will need to rely on him being rock solid.
65 games for the #1 with Khabi and Danis splitting the rest...?
I don't get the angst here.
ReplyDeleteIf we were a contender, yes it would be needed to acquire a better goaltender.
But we're not. We're still bottom 10 with an outside shot of the playoffs.
I'd like to see a better backup option for OKC, but no good free agent is going to sign to take that role.
Dubnyk needs to get 70% of the starts this year, or we'd likely end up with yet another failed goalie prospect.
Weighing up Tambellini's draft + free agency spree where he netted the team ex top 5 pick Cam Barker before he's knackered, could turn out strong for the Oilers, but who the fick knows as they say in Ireland.
ReplyDeleteHis jettisoning of Cogliano, who clearly wasn't fitting in anywhere once Omark took off, looks like a solid return for a failed prospect.
Getting Smyth back the comedy of the 2011 season, imo.
Outstanding, and I have to repeat OUTSTANDING prospect in RNH. This kid gets Gretzky comparisons ffs.
A lot of young players looking to show at training camp, and pressure the bottom 6, lol.
So: I'm giving Tambellini a B+ for his summer, and a B for his work as GM so far.
With Hall and RNH, and Eberle and Omark and MPS, I'll bet LAK fans would swap GM's with us.
ReplyDeletePenner = LAK 1st liner
Outstanding, and I have to repeat OUTSTANDING prospect in RNH. This kid gets Gretzky comparisons ffs.
ReplyDeleteThat puts him in the elite company of hundreds, maybe thousands.
Hundreds and thousands of what Steve, NHL 1st overall picks?
ReplyDeleteSo: I'm giving Tambellini a B+ for his summer, and a B for his work as GM so far.
ReplyDeleteIts nice when ed'l theory meets real-life. I especially enjoy how report cards (a bad idea, generally) get applied to a real-world situation. For instance - semester one, Jonny burns down the science lab, hands no work in and generally sleeps through class. For this he 'earns' an F. But, if in semester two - Jonny shows up to class, sits with the right lab partner who helps him get the right answers, he could earn a B. Would he be a better student in term two than term one? Who knows? Because a report card is without context, ignoring the daily ins and outs of student life (participation in class, demonstration of mastery-of-concept, etc) Jonny would appears to be progressing as a student. If he is given a second chance by the system (which, by law, it should).
Of course, if poor Jonny pulls anything so asinine as his first term in the working world, he gets his butt punted from the job. Because, in 'real life' performance matters, and not potential.
Giving GMs do-overs when they have proven incapable before, even when taking into account injuries, etc, is like hoping Jonny will be better, but ignoring the likely fact that he will do as badly next time.
I can't give ST v4.0 a B, partly because it is a futile exercise, but also because I can't ignore the train wreck he has created the past two years. Plus, he seems to be missing pretty basic pieces to start this year too.
And then I see LT did a report card thing at ON. Mind you, he based it on outcomes, not on a mindless achievement based on percentages accumulated, so at least I can accept that.
ReplyDeleteBar Q:
ReplyDeleteWhen I give Tambellini a letter grade, am merely doing what TSN does.
You obviously have an opinion, which is fine, lol.
I understand that by taking anything like a pro Tambellini position online derision ensues.
Still, the General Manager of the Oilers formerly known as Lowe's lackey shows some positive arrows, as Lowetide might say.
A "C" grade might be better also, but it's fine summer weather too hot to think much.
Fair enough hunter. I am overdosing on educational stuff this summer, and I suspect I may have gone off on a tangent. Sorry. :-)
ReplyDeleteKhabbibulin's drunken ramblings about his stanley cup ring are not what I would want on a team that is trying to develop young effective players, especially Dubnyk
ReplyDeleteAt a season ticket holder brunch after the end of Khabbi's first year I asked why they signed him given his injury history. The response from Tambo was that they wanted a vet who was willing to teach and willing to give up the crease when the time came.
The implication was that Roloson was not that guy, which I think is fair (Roli's a battler, even at 42 or whatever). It'll be interesting to see whether Khabbi is really willing to turn over the ice time to Dubnyk.
@ Spoiler:
ReplyDeleteWhile that sounds great it doesn't answer the real issue of:
Why give a goalie whom you plan to eventually move to a backup position a 4 year, over-age deal at premium rate?
You don't sign a guy to that contract planning for him to step out of the way. If they did, they are no less proven to be piss poor evalutors of potential and value.
Hundreds and thousands of what Steve, NHL 1st overall picks?
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised if there was an undersized playmaker taken in the top ten overall who hasn't garnered comparisons to Gretzky. Or one taken by the Oilers at any point during the Prendergast era, frankly.